The deep, saturated navy of the lapis lazuli immediately draws the eye in this very big pendant on a silver chain. The cabochon cut rounds off the surface of the stone and lets light glide gently across it, so every turn of the hand or tilt of the head reveals different flashes - darker in places, almost blue in others. In ancient cultures of the Middle East, lapis lazuli was linked with idealism and intuition, and its deep colour was said to symbolize inner harmony. The shape of the pendant, thick and bold, has a distinctly boho character while also nodding to the vintage aesthetic of chunky jewelry from decades past.

Only a small part of the sorted raw material makes it into the pendant - what matters is the intensity of colour and a minimal number of lighter patches, so the final stone has a rich, even tone. With this kind of selection, alongside rising silver prices and good-quality stones becoming harder to source, buying at this price today is a sound decision. The pendant is made of refined silver 925 of European quality, and the pure alloy, free of nickel and other harmful additives, means it can be worn without worrying about skin irritation. The metal bears a maker's mark establishing the origin of the piece, registered with the French assay office.

A pendant like this works best in the evening - it pairs well with a little black dress with a simple neckline, or with a silk blouse worn without another necklace layered underneath. An open neckline and a clean line at the throat give the navy lapis lazuli room to draw attention on its own. In boho looks, it also works well with a loose linen dress and delicate jewelry on the wrists that doesn't compete for attention. At 5.0 g, the pendant has a noticeable yet comfortable presence around the neck through the whole evening.